Rumour Mill-The Return of Marc Pugh?

If the local rumours are true, Eddie Howe could be prepared to offer 24 year old Bournemouth winger, Marc Pugh a chance to return to Turf Moor in the January window. Pugh, born locally in Bacup was on Burnley`s books as a youth player but was released in 2006 at the time that both Chris McCann and Jay Rodriguez made the step up to the professional ranks under former gaffer, Steve Cotterill. He also had two spells on loan at Kidderminster whilst at Turf Moor.

After leaving Turf Moor, he had spells at Bury, Shrewsbury Town, Luton (loan) and Hereford United before joining Bournemouth, newly promoted to League 1 in June 2010. He can play as an attacking midfielder, striker or winger and is often on the score-sheet scoring at a rate of about 1 goal every 3-4 games. He scored 13 goals last season for the Cherries and already looks well on the way to beating that with six goals so far in 15 matches.

Burnley were linked with Pugh previously after Howe`s appointment as Burnley gaffer but there did not seem to be much substance in the speculation although obviously Eddie Howe`s links with Bournemouth and his former player were bound to fuel the rumour in the media. Howe is clearly an admirer of Pugh and it remains to be seen if he can prise yet another Bournemouth player away from Dean Court following the signings of Marvin Bartley and Danny Ings. Third-string keeper, Jon Stewart was also on Bournemouth`s books during Howe`s time there.

It is reported that Howe is believed to have had Pugh watched in Bournemouth`s last two games and indeed was present himself at Dean Court on Saturday to watch the Cherries 1-1 draw with Rochdale. Development squad and reserve team coach Jason Blake was also taking stock of Pugh in the Cherries` 1-1 draw at Tranmere earlier this month.

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Your Comments (oldest first)

Really like the sound of this lad! Remember being surprised when we released him in the first place. Pretty sure it was for financial reasons as usual with Lafferty and McCann already getting professional contracts and money being tight to sign up another one

24 years old....risk reduced. Eddie knows him....risk reduced. Former Burnley junior....risk reduced. All in all, I think it's one that will be good for us, he will only get better, and a club always needs creativity and goals. Pugh and a couple of defensive players on loan....I'd be content.

One question I’ve got to ask is why Howe needs to check Pugh out must know what he can do, or could it be a smoke screen might be checking out another player. If it is true then with the amount of wingers and strikers we have at the moment is it possible one or two might be leaving come January, Wallace may be because he is one of the high wages still on the books.

not really impressed with idea of pugh how many strikers or wingers do we need when all fit were gonna have too many players fighting for 4 places when in all reality allthough our defense is starting to work together it is still very fragile for example if we got a suspension and an injury in defense it would really show just how fragile our situation is would much more prefere to see us get some more quality in defense and another central midfielder rather than another winger/striker

Austin, Ings, Treacy, Hines, Stanislav does seem to be a similarity here! Add JayRod, Wallace and Patterson and I make that 8 players for 4 places plus Alex McDonald would make that 9 players for 4 places add Pugh and it becomes any 4 from 10!! Training will be fun when they play attack and defence lol

Dunno, 8c8. Julius Caesar? But if that's Eddie's philosophy, he's welcome to sign up the Jack Russell/English Terrier cross, called Fang, for whom I have a shared responsibility together with my pal's family. He certainly fits the mould of being hungry and aggressive in the middle of fields.

I'm sure that Pugh will fit into Howe's youth policy and hopefully will become an asset to the team BUT like many other posters I would hope for more strength at the back. Not enough clean sheets and very low goal -for and against -differential

I think that his reasons are based on a sort of "shock and awe" approach that matches his youth theories. Bring in more energy and work on sustaining it for 90 minutes. Lets face it - thats what we love. Some of us may remember Dave Thomas et al hitting Leeds before they realised they were in trouble and putting 5 past them. Lets see if it works on Saturday. (Can't wait)

Please note the Editorial comments and opinions on this site are the personal views of the Editor and should not be construed in any way to be representative of those of other Clarets organisations of which he belongs e.g. Clarets Trust. This applies to both the front page articles and posts in any of the forums.

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